The Caterer Top 100 sparks calls for more women in top jobs

The Caterer's Top 100 most powerful people in hospitality has inspired a rallying call to see more women take the top jobs in the industry.

Following the publication of the list, many readers highlighted the lack of women, particularly in the top spots.

Stefanie Roberts (@People1stStef) said: “This is why, ladies, we need to show the hospitality industry that we have the confidence to push forward and show that we CAN! This gender inequality needs to change. Let’s do this!!"

Writing to The Caterer Lin Dickens, marketing director of Bartlett Mitchell, said: "It was only a few weeks ago where we were looking at gender pay gap figures in hospitality compared to other sectors and feeling more positive about the role women play in our industry.

"However, fast forward a few weeks and the list demonstrates that we still have a very big job to do to ensure women have opportunities to progress in to leadership positions in hospitality."

In a rallying call for the industry POLPO Restaurants (@polpo) tweeted: “It’s responsibility for ALL to recognise this is ongoing. We’re one of the many industries that need to promote + pay women more fairly.”

This morning, The Caterer and Alaska Seafood hosted a Women in Hospitality roundtable event to discuss the barriers that sustain gender disparity at the top of the industry.

There was optimism for the future from those who gathered at Amazon’s new head office in London today, including Royal Lancaster London general manager Sally Beck, chef Ruth Hansom and restaurant manager Jennifer Santner of Sketch, London.

Many of those gathered said that within their companies more women than ever were taking senior managerial positions, identifying a large pool of talent from which the future leaders of hospitality will emerge.

Stephanie Hamilton, director of people and culture at ISS, said that it was incredibly positive that hospitality had one of the smallest gender pay gaps among UK industries, but praised The Caterer for highlighting the fact that there weren’t enough women in top jobs in the industry.

She added: “I buy The Caterer to read about important, challenging issues like this, so it’s important that the list has been produced.”

Sarah Miller, a regional managing director at BaxterStorey, said there was a 60/40 split in favour of women within her leadership team, but acknowledged that this was not the norm for the industry, especially at CEO level.

Joanne Taylor-Stagg, who recently left Trafalgar St James hotel as general manager, said she expected to see more female chief executives emerging in the near future.

“I remember when I was the only female senior manager on a team. There are now a lot more than there were 20 years ago and I believe there will be more female CEOs because there is a bigger pool to choose from.”

Responding to feedback on social media Chris Gamm, editor of The Caterer, said: “Lots of people have asked why there’s not more women on the list and why The Caterer would run a list at all highlighting such an imbalance between men and women in top jobs in the industry.

“But the fact is this imbalance exists. Highlighting it on the Top 100 list is important as it means the debate can take place.

“There was lots of fantastic discussion at today’s roundtable about how the industry must change to address this issue and we look forward to sharing it soon.”

The Caterer’s Top 100 was compiled by a panel of industry judges who assessed industry leaders across a range of criteria including financial success, influence, longevity and innovation.

Thirteen women featured on the list, up from 10 in 2012. Firmdale Hotels co-founder Kit Kemp was the top-ranked woman on the list, appearing alongside husband Tim in the 35^th position.

Karen Forrester, chief executive of TGI Fridays, was the next to be featured in the 41^st position. Other women included in the list were Wendy Bartlett of Bartlett Mitchell, Alison Brittain of Whitbread, chefs Angela Hartnett and Clare Smyth and Catherine Roe of Elior UK.

There has been consensus that the industry needs to retain and promote the talent that women bring to the hospitality industry, something The Caterer has reported on many times.

Ways to help women progress in the industry identified by those attending the roundtable included encouraging women to apply for top jobs, addressing sexism and increasing flexible working.

The Caterer will address these in more depth in the upcoming weeks and you can read more about the Women in Hospitality roundtable in the 11 May issue.

Top 100: the most powerful people in hospitality>>

Get The Caterer every week on your smartphone, tablet, or even in good old-fashioned hard copy (or all three!).